But increasingly, it appears her future GOP opponent could also be vulnerable after an exceedingly long and divisive primary for the right to take on the three-term senator.

Last year, Republicans viewed Rep. Bill Cassidy, who has a moderate profile and flush bank account, as the consensus pick to run against Landrieu. But Cassidy has not announced his intentions yet, and now other ambitious Pelican State Republicans — including those who see themselves as more conservative than Cassidy — have been quietly expressing interest in the race.

One top GOP strategist in the state, unaligned with any potential candidate, called Cassidy’s hesitation “a big mistake” because it allows other candidates to ponder the race and keeps donors and grass-roots supporters from coalescing around him.

Fleming said he was seriously considering a Senate run but hadn’t made a decision yet.

“We’re really doing the analytics right now,” he said. But Fleming noted that he had been ranked as one of the most conservative members of the 112th Congress.

Similarly, Landry said he hasn’t ruled anything in or out but was “listening” to the people in the state.

Asked about the potential Republican primary field for Senate, Landry said, “I’m not interested in having a moderate [Republican] represent me in the U.S. Senate.”

A Boustany aide said the congressman was “weighing his options.”

In the coming months, Republicans will see whether these trial balloons evolve into the full-blown blimps of statewide campaigns. But the fact that serious candidates are floating their names is a sign that Cassidy has not cleared the field.